First we get Bush doing his bogeyman act today before the American Legion. Shades of smoking guns and mushrooms clouds:
He had especially belligerent language for Iran, accusing Tehran of funding terrorists around the world, as well as the Taliban in Afghanistan, while pursuing technology that could put the region under "the shadow of a nuclear holocaust."
"Iran's actions threaten the security of nations everywhere, and that is why the United States is rallying friends and allies around the world to isolate the regime, to impose economic sanctions," Bush said. "We will confront this danger before it is too late."
"I want our fellow citizens to consider what would happen if these forces of radicalism and extremism are allowed to drive us out of the Middle East," he added. "The region would be dramatically transformed in a way that could imperil the civilized world."
And then we have this little item, fresh off the AP wires, under the headline "U.S. Troops Reportedly Detain Iranians":
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- American troops raided a Baghdad hotel Tuesday night and took away a group of about 10 people that a U.S.-funded radio station said included six members of an Iranian delegation here to negotiate contracts with Iraq's government.
The Iranian Embassy did not confirm the report. But it said seven Iranians -- an embassy employee and six members of a delegation from Iran's Electricity Ministry -- were staying at the Sheraton Ishtar Hotel, which was the one raided by U.S. soldiers.
...
A U.S. military spokesman, Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, declined to comment, saying the action was part of an operation that had not been completed. In Washington, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said, ''I've seen that report but I can't verify it.''
The Internet site of Radio Sawa, an Arabic language station financed by the United States, said Iranian officials were detained and taken to an unknown location. It said the Iranian delegation was in Baghdad to negotiate contracts on electric power stations.
This is all on top of other statements, reports, incidents, military movements, speeches etc. etc. which, added up, seem to be pointing to Bush/Cheney going down this damn road we've been down before. I'm just paranoid enough to think they have their plan all worked out, and Rove and Gonzalez were either removed to clear the decks, or decided to get out while the getting was just merely awful.
So maybe some dinner and a beer will help quell this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach....